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The Mapleson Cylinders - Program Notes |
| Libretti |
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| Wagner: TANNHÄUSER [Includes RealAudio Selections] |
Tannhäuser was almost as popular as Lohengrin in the Nineties (and was also often sung in Italian rather than the original German). Though it was performed five, two, and four times, respectively, during Mapleson's three seasons of recording Met stage performances, it seems to have attracted his attention only twice (see Appendix B).
Act I: Shepherd Boy scene excerpt: "[Am hohen Fest der Gnad' und Huld in] Demut sühn' ich meine Schuld" ... "Der Wallfahrt wolle gün[stig] sein"
Carrie Bridewell (ms), Shepherd
Emil Gerhäuser (t), Tannhäuser
Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orchestra--Alfred
Hertz
January 17, 1903
[Glackens 47; speed matches Band 4.]
At Tannhäuser's invocation of the Virgin Mary, the Venusberg has magically vanished, and he finds himself in a valley near the Wartburg, where a shepherd is piping and singing as pilgrims pass by. (Partway through this cylinder, Mapleson seems to have been fooling around with his apparatus, and the connection between his horn and diaphragm evidently became loose, resulting in a sharp loss of level, which, however, returns towards the end.)
[original]
CHORUS
[A Roma nel solenne] dì
io vo'implorare il tuo perdon!
Beato l'uom' che ognor gioì
di questo eterno eccelso don!
SHEPHERD
Glück auf! Glück auf nach Rom!
Betet fur meine arme Seele!
TANNHÄUSER
Allmächt'ger, dir sei Preis!
Gross [ dropout begins→ ] sind
die Wunder deine Gnade!
CHORUS
Eterno, eccelso Crea[ ←dropout ends
]tor,
ricorre a te lo spirto anel;
sei speme tu del peccator,
deh! volgi un guardo a noi [dal ciel.]
[translation]
CHORUS
In Rome on the holy day
I wish to implore Thy pardon!
Blessed the man who always enjoys
this eternal sublime gift!
SHEPHERD
Godspeed! Godspeed to Rome!
Pray for my poor soul!
TANNHÄUSER
Almighty, praise be Thine!
Great are the wonders of Thy grace!
CHORUS
Eternal, sublime Creator,
the panting spirit returns to Thee;
Thou art the hope of the sinner,
pray, turn Thy glance on us from heaven.
Band 4
[Click to Listen]
Act II: Elisabeth's Greeting excerpt: "[ferne] mehr! Wie jetzt mein Busen" ... "und lass zu deinen Füs[sen mich]"
Johanna Gadski (s), Elisabeth
Emil Gerhäuser (t), Tannhäuser
David Bispham (b), Wolfram
Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orchestra--
Alfred Hertz
January 17, 1903
[Slip; Glackens 60.]
At the beginning of Act II, Elisabeth, who during Tannhäuser's mysterious absence has shunned the minstrels' song contests, again greets the hall of song. At the end of her aria, Wolfram brings Tannhäuser to her.
[original]
ELISABETH
[... der mich und dich so neu belebet,
nicht länger weilt er ferne] mehr!
Wie jetzt mein Busen hoch sich hebet,
so scheinst du jetzt mir stolz und hehr;
der mich und dich so neu belebet,
nicht länger weih→ er ferne mehr!
Sei mir gegrüsst! Sei mir gegrüsst!
Du teure Halle, sei mir gegrüsst!
Sei mir gegrüsst!
Du teure Halle, sei mir gegrüsst!
WOLFRAM
Dort ist sie,
nahe dich ihr ungestört!
TANNHÄUSER
O Fürstin!
ELISABETH
Gott! Stehet auf! Lasst mich!
Nicht darf ich Euch hier sehn!
TANNHÄUSER
Du darfst! O bleib, und lass zu deinen Füs[sen mich!]
[translation]
ELISABETH
He who gives us both new life,
he will no longer stay far away!
How my breast now mounts up,
and you seem to me now proud and mighty;
He who gives us both new life,
he will no longer stay far away!
I greet thee! I greet thee!
O dear hall, I greet thee!
I greet thee!
O dear hall, I greet thee!
WOLFRAM
There she is;
approach her undisturbed!
TANNHÄUSER
O Princess!
ELISABETH
God! Stand up! Leave me!
I dare not meet you here!
TANNHÄUSER
You may! O stay, and let me kneel at your feet!
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